Monticello Ills. Feb 19

Dear Father,

When I last wrote to you, we were in Lafayette Ind. We at that time expected to go to Crawfordsville to buy our horses But we were informed that Cattle & horses, were very scarce in that neighborhood, and that horses could be bought fifteen perct. cheaper in this state. We went to Georgetown and remained there four days before we could [?] find any horses that would suit. On last Wednesday we bought a horse for each one of us, & started out on horseback. I [?] found riding pretty sore work the first day, but after that I did not mind it We yesterday rode from Urbana to this place, a distance of 25 miles over the Grand Prairie[?] which is the largest prairie[?] in the United States; it extends from within 8 miles of Lafayette, through this State to the Rock[y?] Mountains The land is very level, & is almost covered with Wild Geese ducks & prairie[?] chickens. They sometimes fly so low that you could knock them down with a stone. W^m Silsly[?] shot a duck with my revolver as the flock flew over us.

Cattle are cheaper here, than [?] they are in any State in the Union They The farmers throughout Ohio & Indiana & also through the Northern part of this state want 4 cts gross for their stock & do not appear anxious to sell at that price I think we will buy about 50 head of stock Cattle in this neighborhood tomorrow. I think we can get them at 2_ or 3 cents gross. We are all well W^m is writing home. Tell Isaac to write to me & direct his letter to St Louis & tell Gust[?] not to forget to send my memorandum back with Lenny[?] when he comes out. Give my best respects to all the folks & love to mother Grandmother Aunt Anne[?] & Aunt Minerva[?]. I will write again in a week or two.

Yours Affectionately

A G Walls